The Cook County Cheetahs (formerly known as the Will County Cheetahs) open their fourth season with a new 4,000-fan capacity stadium — Hawkinson Ford Field — and a league championship under their belt. A number of former White
Sox and Cubs players are working with the team, including the Sox’ Carlos May
(hitting coach) and Ron LeFlore (assistant coach); former Cub Chico Walker is
managing.
New members of the 10-team independent Frontier League, the Cheetahs won the
championship in the Heartland league a year ago. Here’s how to take part in the fun in 1999.
Home season: The Cheetahs play 88 games, 44 at home. The home season opener: June 2 vs. the River City Rascals. The finale: Aug. 27 against the Evansville Otters.
Tickets: Tickets are $7 for lower box seats, $6 for upper box, and $4 for general admission. Groups between 15-99 receive a discount off regular prices.
A mini-package ticket deal includes opening day plus five Monday games for $36.
A food and game deal for your office is called the Picnic Party: bring 50 guests and they’ll receive all the hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, beer and soda pop they want 90 minutes before gametime for $20 per person.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 and at Dominick’s food stores, Tower Records, Blockbuster Music and Carson Pirie Scott department stores. After April 5, single game tickets are available through the Cheetahs by calling 708-489-2255.
Promotions: Scheduled promos include magnetic schedules (June 2 and 3); Baby Cheetah Day stuffed cheetahs (June 11; for kids); fireworks (July 4); All-American Girls Tribute – a “League of Their Own” (July 10); Fright Night
featuring the Son of Svengoolie (Aug. 13); and Elvis Fest (Aug. 16).
Getting there: The stadium is about 18 miles south of downtown Chicago at 14100 S. Kenton in Crestwood, just off of I-294 and Cicero Avenue. From downtown, take either the Kennedy (I-90/94) or Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) toward Indiana; go south to the Cicero exit. Go south on Cicero for 1 1/2 miles to Midlothian Turnpike; turn left (east) and proceed to the second street (Kenton); turn right.
Parking: There are spaces for 7,000 cars. Cost is $1.
Party Places: Mitch’s Pub & Eatery, 13815 S. Cicero Ave., Crestwood, and J.C.’s Pub, 13101 S. Cicero Ave., Crestwood.
